Northern
slopes of the Sabz Mountain five kilometers away from
Marvdasht city, in southern province of Fars, hold a cave
that is believed to have been the shelter of residents of
the region thousand of years ago.

Although the cave has recently been registered in the
National Heritage List of Iran, the history of its studies
go back to more than 30 years ago.

The prehistoric place, more than 27000 years old, was
first discovered in 1969 by William Sumner who was
carrying out archeological research around Kor River. Two
years later in 1978 Michael Rosenberg started some
diggings in the cave. Gavi cave comprises two connected
rooms and its entrance is in the form of an 8.

The entrance or the first room enjoys better lighting and
air conditions and therefore it is believed that the main
activities of its residents were allotted to this section;
the second room was perhaps used for collecting garbage
(remains of animals). Two diggings by Rosenberg give
important information on the cave.

Digging A and the coals found in it suggested the age of
the cave was between 18,000 and 30,000 years ago.
Therefore, it could be said that considering climatic
matters, it belongs to the last period of Ice Age named
Wurm age, and in terms of cultural issues, it is part of
the upper Paleolithic times.

Digging B and the unique tools found there are indication
of long life there and show that people resided in the
area from oldest periods of upper Paleolithic times, or
even older times of middle Paleolithic era.

The animal bones found belong to animals such as deer and
a type of sheep called Capra.

A circular piece of stone discovered in the cave led to
the belief that residents of the cave must have used
plants as part of their food.

There are many caves in the Fars province which were used
as human shelters thousands of years ago.

According to the experts with the Fars cultural heritage
department, the Gavi cave due to its unique antiquity and
the scientific archeological research carried out there,
is an important source for the identification of the
history of the area.

"History
is the Light on the Path to Future"

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Iranica

The
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